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August 25, 2009

G125: Red Sox 6, White Sox 3

The Red Sox rallied immediately after Chicago had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Jason Varitek doubled to right center. Nick Green ran for him and scored when pinch-hitter Victor Martinez hit a first-pitch single to left center.

In the eighth, Jason Bay homered with one out to give Boston a 4-3 lead. Then, with two outs, Green singled, Martinez doubled him home, and Jacoby Ellsbury singled Martinez in. Jonathan Papelbon had no trouble in the ninth, striking out the first two, allowing a double, then getting Gordon Beckham on an easy fly to center.

In the first inning, after doubling to right-center, Ellsbury stole third on the first pitch to Dustin Pedroia. A.J. Pierzynski bobbled the pitch and made no throw as LBJ set a new Red Sox single season record for SB with 55.

Three of Boston's six runs came with two outs, making it 33 of the last 39.

Lester (6.2-4-3-2-6, 113) pitched well -- he retired 12 in a row from the third to sixth -- and should have made it through the seventh. Although he allowed a single and walk to start the seventh, he got two outs on a bunt and a line drive to right. Lester struck out Alexie Ramirez for the third out, but the ball got past Varitek and the tying run scored from third. Then a single gave Chicago the lead.

Hideki Okajima came in and allowed a single to load the bases, but fanned Beckham for the third out. Okajima and Manny Delcarmen wiggled out of a 1st-and-3rd situation with no outs in the eighth.

The Rangers beat the Yankees 10-9 -- New York and Joba (4-9-7-3-5, 96) blew a 4-0 first-inning lead and their four-run comeback attempt in the ninth was ended on an unassisted double play -- so Boston is now 6 GB. One step at a time.

Pitching change - damn.I forgot to stop at the grocery store on the way home and have to go back out. But I'm not going anywhere till we seal this deal.Of course, I'll gladly wait a while if the Sox want to add 3 or 4 more runs to be sure.

Nice win...and about the catching situation , I don't see us getting outbid by the yankees again,after the 2010 season when Mauer is a free agent..so V-mart and Tek make for a good duo..no reason to groom anyone, in my opinion..